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PubMed · Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz, an important Asian traditional medicine: from traditional uses to scientific data for its commercial exploitation. (2015)
PubMed · <i>Oroxylum indicum</i> (L.) kurz as a promising Anticancer resource: bridging ethnopharmacology, biotechnology, and conservation perspectives. (2026)
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This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Oroxylum indicum, also known as the Indian trumpet tree, is an Asian medicinal plant used in traditional systems like Ayurveda for various therapeutic purposes [PMID:25543018, PMID:41849733]. It is recognized for its wide range of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects [PMID:33276419, PMID:41849733].
Background
Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz is an endangered medicinal species of the Bignoniaceae family widely distributed throughout Asia [PMID:33276419, PMID:41849733]. It is a key component of Ayurvedic formulations such as Dashamoola and Chyawanprash [PMID:41849733].
Traditional uses
It has been used for centuries in Asia to prevent and treat jaundice, arthritic and rheumatic problems, gastric ulcers, tumors, respiratory diseases, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, and non-healing ulcers [PMID:25543018, PMID:38805854].
Active compounds
The plant is rich in flavonoids, most notably baicalein, baicalin, oroxylin A, chrysin, oroxin A, and oroxin B [PMID:33276419, PMID:41154001, PMID:41849733]. Other identified compounds include phenolic glycosides such as oroxylumosides A and B, darendoside A, leucosceptoside A, acteoside, and decaffeoylacteoside [PMID:33078632], as well as 5,6,7-trimethoxyflavone-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside [PMID:25675364].
Mechanism of action
Pharmacological effects are mediated through the inhibition of NF-κB, modulation of ROS-mediated apoptosis, and glucose uptake modulation [PMID:41849733]. Specific compounds like oroxylin A modulate signaling pathways including MAPK, ERK1/2, Wnt/β-catenin, and PTEN/PI3K/Akt [PMID:36139025]. Other mechanisms include the upregulation of BDNF gene expression [PMID:38931243] and the targeting of Lactate Dehydrogenase A (LDHA) [PMID:36583135].
Clinical evidence
Evidence BMild Cognitive Impairment
A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that 500 mg of standardized extract twice daily was associated with greater improvements in episodic memory and computer-based cognitive tasks compared to placebo [PMID:34531736]
Evidence BHepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
Oroxylin A tablets are currently undergoing phase Ib/IIa clinical trials for the treatment of HCC [PMID:40653321]
In male C57BL/6J mice, Oroxylum indicum extract significantly prevented impairments in short-term cognitive performance, spatial learning, and memory following doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide treatment [PMID:34081735]
Evidence DDoxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Root bark extract prevented cardiac damage in female Sprague Dawley rats by restoring redox balance [PMID:29398409]; extract (Sabroxy®) also showed cardioprotective effects against doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in male mice [PMID:34623620]
Evidence DCancer (General/Solid Tumors)
Root bark extract inhibited solid and ascites tumors (DLA and EAC) and prevented DMBA-induced skin papilloma formation in mice [PMID:36500567]
Safety & adverse effects
Toxicological studies indicate a wide safety margin [PMID:41849733]. Baicalin and baicalein have shown almost no toxicity to normal human epithelial, peripheral, and myeloid cells [PMID:28288320].
Evidence summary
The evidence consists primarily of preclinical in vitro and in vivo animal studies (Level D) and systematic reviews (Level C). There is limited clinical evidence from one randomized controlled trial regarding cognitive function (Level B) and ongoing phase Ib/IIa trials for hepatocellular carcinoma (Level B).
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 33078632 (2022) — Phenolic glycosides from Oroxylum indicum. · Natural product research
2.PMID: 25543018 (2015) — Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz, an important Asian traditional medicine: from traditional uses to scientific data for its commercial exploitation. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
3.PMID: 33276419 (2020) — The Biological Activities and Therapeutic Potentials of Baicalein Extracted from Oroxylum indicum: A Systematic Review. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 41849733 (2026) — Oroxylum indicum (L.) kurz as a promising Anticancer resource: bridging ethnopharmacology, biotechnology, and conservation perspectives. · Natural product research
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Seed extract significantly alleviated anhedonia and despair behaviors in a mouse model of unpredictable chronic mild stress by normalizing HPA axis function [PMID:38004136]
— Cardioprotective Effects of Oroxylum indicum Extract Against Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cardiotoxicity.
7.PMID: 41154001 (2025) — A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Oroxylum indicum and Its Functional Food Potential. · Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
8.PMID: 40650065 (2025) — The Neuroprotective Potential of Seed Extract from the Indian Trumpet Tree Against Amyloid Beta-Induced Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Cells. · International journal of molecular sciences
9.PMID: 25675364 (2015) — One new flavonoid from Oroxylum indicum. · Natural product research
10.PMID: 36139025 (2022) — Oroxylin A: A Promising Flavonoid for Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases. · Biomolecules
11.PMID: 32733583 (2020) — Systematic Elucidation of the Mechanism of Oroxylum indicum via Network Pharmacology. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
12.PMID: 38873988 (2024) — Molecular targets and therapeutic potential of baicalein: a review. · Drug target insights
13.PMID: 39124228 (2024) — A Comparative Study of Two Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz. Phenotypes Based on Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Effects, and the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Leaf and Pod Extracts. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
14.PMID: 29434399 (2018) — Anti-viral Activities of Oroxylum indicum Extracts on Chikungunya Virus Infection. · Indian journal of microbiology
15.PMID: 38931243 (2024) — The Neuroprotective Effects of Oroxylum indicum Extract in SHSY-5Y Neuronal Cells by Upregulating BDNF Gene Expression under LPS Induced Inflammation. · Nutrients
16.PMID: 37493468 (2024) — Identification of potential sclerostin inhibiting flavonoids from Oroxylum indicum: an insilico approach. · Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
17.PMID: 29398409 (2019) — Oroxylum indicum root bark extract prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage by restoring redox balance. · Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
18.PMID: 36583135 (2023) — Anticancer potential of phytochemicals from Oroxylum indicum targeting Lactate Dehydrogenase A through bioinformatic approach. · Toxicology reports
19.PMID: 38805854 (2024) — In-silico evaluation of Oroxylum indicum vent compounds in the plausible treatment and prevention of nasopharyngeal cancer. · Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
20.PMID: 34531736 (2021) — Effects of an Oroxylum indicum Extract (Sabroxy®) on Cognitive Function in Adults With Self-reported Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. · Frontiers in aging neuroscience
21.PMID: 36500567 (2022) — Root Bark Extract of Oroxylum indicum Vent. Inhibits Solid and Ascites Tumors and Prevents the Development of DMBA-Induced Skin Papilloma Formation. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
22.PMID: 38417609 (2024) — Cellular and molecular mechanisms of oroxylin A in cancer therapy: Recent advances. · European journal of pharmacology
23.PMID: 37046789 (2023) — Baicalein as Promising Anticancer Agent: A Comprehensive Analysis on Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives. · Cancers
24.PMID: 40650064 (2025) — Pharmacological Evaluation of a Traditional Thai Polyherbal Formula for Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence from In Vitro and In Silico Studies. · International journal of molecular sciences
25.PMID: 38004136 (2023) — Antidepressant-like Effect of Oroxylum indicum Seed Extract in Mice Model of Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress. · Nutrients
26.PMID: 40833599 (2026) — Oroxin A suppresses non-small cell lung cancer via the HSP90AA1/AKT signaling pathway. · Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
27.PMID: 41385833 (2026) — Chrysin promotes the survival of flaps through the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. · Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
28.PMID: 40653321 (2025) — First-in-class drug oroxylin A tablets for treating hepatic and gastrointestinal disorders: from preclinical development to clinical research. · Chinese journal of natural medicines
29.PMID: 28288320 (2017) — Therapeutic potentials of baicalin and its aglycone, baicalein against inflammatory disorders. · European journal of medicinal chemistry
30.PMID: 35298472 (2022) — Bioprospecting of fungal endophytes from Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz with antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. · PloS one